Frangible shipping carton and associated methods

Abstract

A selectively frangible shipping carton for storing and shipping goods comprises at least one side wall joining a top wall and a bottom wall. A path of weakness extends around a periphery of the carton through at least a portion of the side wall. The path of weakness enables a user to manually separate the carton into at least two portions: an upper portion including the top wall and a lower portion including the bottom wall. A pair of lines of weakness extends upwardly relative to the path of weakness and terminates at or adjacent the top wall. A grip flap defined in the side wall between the pair of lines of weakness, the grip flap being graspable by the user when separating the carton into the at least two portions.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A selectively frangible shipping carton for storing and shipping goods comprising:
 at least one side wall joining a top wall and a bottom wall; 
 a path of weakness extending around a periphery of the carton through at least a portion of the side wall, the path of weakness enabling a user to manually separate the carton into at least two portions: 
 an upper portion including the top wall and a lower portion including the bottom wall, the path of weakness having a substantially constant elevation relative to a lowermost point of the carton; 
 a pair of lines of weakness extending upwardly relative to the path of weakness and terminating at a joint between the top wall and the side wall; 
 a grip flap defined in the side wall between the pair of lines of weakness, the grip flap being graspable by the user when separating the carton into the at least two portions. 
 
     
     
       2. The carton of  claim 1 , wherein the grip flap is manually configurable by the user into a graspable portion having a depth at least twice a thickness of the side wall. 
     
     
       3. The carton of  claim 1 , wherein the lines of weakness are separated a distance sufficiently wide to receive the user's fingers between the pair of lines of weakness, to allow the user to securely grasp the grip flap when separating the upper portion of the carton from the lower portion of the carton. 
     
     
       4. The carton of  claim 1 , wherein the grip flap includes a secondary area of weakness formed therein, the secondary area of weakness enabling the grip flap to be easily folded or rolled upon itself to provide a graspable portion having a depth at least twice a thickness of the side wall. 
     
     
       5. The carton of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion includes an upper periphery edge formed after separation of the upper and lower portions, the upper periphery edge having a substantially constant elevation relative to a lowermost point of the lower portion. 
     
     
       6. The carton of  claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of lines of weakness is in communication with, and extends upwardly from, the path of weakness. 
     
     
       7. The carton of  claim 1 , wherein the grip flap includes at least one access opening formed or formable therein, the access opening allowing a user to initiate separation of the grip flap from the side wall with a fingertip. 
     
     
       8. The carton of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the carton can be manually separated from the lower portion of the carton without the use of a sharp implement. 
     
     
       9. The carton of  claim 1 , wherein the path of weakness has a constant elevation relative to a lowermost point of the carton. 
     
     
       10. A selectively frangible shipping carton for storing and shipping goods, comprising:
 at least one side wall connected to at least one top wall; 
 a path of weakness extending around a periphery of the carton through at least a portion of the side wall, the path of weakness enabling a user to manually separate the carton into at least two portions: 
 an upper portion including the top wall and a lower portion; the path of weakness having a substantially constant elevation relative to a lowermost point of the carton; 
 a pair of lines of weakness, in communication with and extending upwardly from the path of weakness, the pair of lines of weakness defining therebetween a grip flap in the side wall, the grip flap being manually configurable by the user into a graspable portion having a depth at least twice a thickness of the side wall wherein the pair of lines of weakness terminates at a joint between the top wall and the side wall; 
 the graspable portion providing a secure gripping interface to aid the user in manually separating the carton into the at least two portions. 
 
     
     
       11. The carton of  claim 10 , wherein the grip flap is spaced from the top wall with no areas of weakness formed in the side wall between the grip flap and the top wall. 
     
     
       12. The carton of  claim 10 , wherein the lines of weakness are separated a distance sufficiently wide to receive the fingers of one of the user's hand between the pair of lines of weakness, to allow the user to securely grasp the grip flap when separating the upper portion of the carton from the lower portion of the carton. 
     
     
       13. The carton of  claim 10 , wherein the grip flap includes a secondary area of weakness formed therein, the secondary area of weakness enabling the grip flap to be easily folded or rolled upon itself to provide a graspable portion having a depth at least twice a thickness of the side wall. 
     
     
       14. The carton of  claim 10 , wherein each of the pair of lines of weakness is in communication with, and extends upwardly from, the path of weakness. 
     
     
       15. The carton of  claim 10 , wherein the grip flap includes at least one access opening formed or formable therein, the access opening allowing a user to more easily initiate separation of the grip flap from the side wall. 
     
     
       16. The carton of  claim 10 , wherein the path of weakness has a constant elevation relative to a lowermost point of the carton. 
     
     
       17. A selectively frangible shipping carton for storing and shipping goods, comprising:
 at least one side wall joining an upper portion and a lower portion; 
 a path of weakness extending around a periphery of the carton through at least a portion of the side wall, the path of weakness enabling a user to manually separate the upper portion and the lower portion one from another; 
 the path of weakness having a substantially constant elevation relative to a lowermost point of the lower portion; at least one line of weakness formed in the side wall wherein the at least one line of weakness terminates at a joint between the top wall and the side wall; and 
 an access flap defined adjacent the line of weakness, the access flap allowing the user to insert a portion of the user's hand within the carton to securely grasp the side wall when manually separating the carton into the at least two portions. 
 
     
     
       18. The carton of  claim 17 , wherein the access flap forms a grip flap when the portion of the user's hand is inserted within the carton. 
     
     
       19. The carton of  claim 18 , wherein the upper portion includes a top wall, and wherein the line of weakness terminates at the joint between the top wall and the side wall, such that the grip flap is formed adjacent the top wall. 
     
     
       20. The carton of  claim 18 , wherein the upper portion includes a top wall, and wherein the grip flap is spaced from the top wall with no areas of weakness formed in the side wall between the grip flap and the top wall. 
     
     
       21. The carton of  claim 18 , wherein the grip flap includes a secondary area of weakness formed therein, the secondary area of weakness enabling the grip flap to be easily folded or rolled upon itself to provide a graspable portion having a depth at least twice a thickness of the side wall. 
     
     
       22. The carton of  claim 18 , wherein the grip flap includes at least one access opening formed or formable therein, the access opening allowing a user to more easily initiate separation of the grip portion from the side wall. 
     
     
       23. The carton of  claim 17 , wherein the access flap is sufficiently wide to allow the user to insert substantially all of the user's fingers within the carton. 
     
     
       24. The carton of  claim 17 , wherein the line of weakness is in communication with, and extends upwardly from, the path of weakness. 
     
     
       25. The carton of  claim 17 , wherein the path of weakness has a constant elevation relative to a lowermost point of the carton.